Adjustable golf tee



Nov. 2, 1954 H. A. DAWSON, JR

ADJUSTABLE GOLF TEE Filed July 1, 1949 FIG.2

FIG. I

IN VEN TOR.

HARRY A. DAWSON, JR

FIG.7

United States Patent ADJUSTABLE GOLF TEE Harry A. Dawson','Ji'., Chevy Chase, MIL, assignor o one-half to John S; Lacey, Bethesda; Md.

Application July 1, 1949, Serial No. 102,640

2 Claims. ((31. 273 202) The present invention relates to an improved golf tee. Golf tees in common use at the present time usually consist of pointed wooden dowels having enlarged heads formed with. concave recesses, for supporting golf balls in position for driving. These tees often have been found unsatisfactory, however, because of the difiiculty involved in forcing them into position, particularly when the ground is dry and hard. As a result, much time is lost by players of the game of golf in tceing up. Not infrequently, moreover, these wooden tees are broken in the process of forcing them into the ground and, also, because they sometimes tip over before the player can drive the ball from them, such tees often constitute a mental hazar and thus impair proper driving. Furthermore, wooden tees have no provision for permitting adjustment of the height of the ball above the ground.

One of the principal objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a simple and effective golf tee, made of cardboard or other cheap material, which will rest on top of the ground and will support a golf ball in a position satisfactory for driving.

Another object is to provide a golf tee which may be manufactured in large quantities at low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf tee which is adjustable, so that the ball may be positioned at optimum height above ground, to suit the varying requirements of different players or to satisfy different driving conditions.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a tee by the use of which a golf player will be enabled to improve his game, for the reason that he will be assured of proper positioning of the ball prior to driv- Further objects of the invention will become readily apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tee, according to the present invention, as it would appear supporting a golf ball in position for driving, and with its adjustable ball supporting element in fully extended position.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the improved tee, the supporting element and ball being shown, in broken lines, in partially retracted (lowered) position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 3a is a detail section, partlyin elevation, showing a modification of the invention.

2,693,358 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 surface of the base may be decorated or may have other indicia thereon, such as advertising matter.

Mounted in the base 1' is a ball supporting element 4 which, like the base-1, may be formed of cardboard. The element 4 is constituted by an open-ended cylinder having a relatively thin wall, the outer surface of which isv rough, so that it may be. effectively engaged by the gripping member 3'. The element 4 is of uniformv diameter throughout its length. and, as best seenin Figs. 1 and- 2, the upper end of said element defines a seat 5 for a golf ball, indicated in broken lines at 6.

It. should be understood that the tee of the present invention is formed of material of sufficient strength adequately to support a golf ball, and that said tee is of. such rugged. construction that it may be used again and again. If thought to be desirable, the base 1 andball supporting element 4" can be coated or impregnated with a moisture resistant compound, such as paraffin, to resist the. effects of wet grass, or perspiration from the hands of the. golfer. Suclgg coating is indicated fragmentarily at. 7 in'Figs'. 1 an It should also be understood that the tee maybe made in different sizes, if thought to be desirable.

In use, the tee is held, by its base, in one hand and the element 4 is grasped with the other hand and pulled out of said base a distance suflicient to dispose a ball placed thereon, when the tee is on the ground, a desired distance above the ground for most effecting driving. Then the tee is placed on the ground and the golf ball placed on the seat 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The element 4 may, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, be moved downward in the base, for placing the ball nearer the ground. The gripping member 3 will frictionally engage the coarse outer surface of the element 4 for retaining 5 said element, at any point along its length, in ball sup- Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view, showing another modification of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the modification of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing another modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing still another modification of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the improved golf tee according to the present invention includes a generally frusto-conical base 1 which is preferably formed of cardboard, although other materials may be used. The base 1 is open at both ends but is provided with a rolled upper edge 2 terminating in an inwardly directed portion defining a gripping member 3. It should be understood that the wall of the base 1 is of sufficient thickness to prevent easy collapse, and that the diameter of the base at its lower end is such that the tee will remain upright on the grass or bare ground when placed thereon. The outer porting position. In this connection it should be understood that, since the gripping member 3 is formed by turning inwardly the upper end of the base 1, said member will exert forces toward the axis of the base, for assurbase 10 and effectively prevents slipping of the said element 12 in said base. By utilizing sufficient effort, of course, the element may be shifted in and out of the base, for positioning the golf ball at optimum distance above the surface of the ground, in the most effective driving position. A head 15 is secured to the upper end of the element 12 and serves a three-fold function. That is, it provides a better seat for the golf ball; it serves as a stop to limit downward movement of the element; it provides a manually engageable portion, or handle, by which the tee may be held, with the ball thereon, so that said tee gnddball may be easily set in driving position, with one The modification of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will now be described. In these views, the base of this embodiment is shown at 20. Said base, like the base 1, is of cardboard and of generally frusto-conical shape. At its upper end the wall of the base 20 is formed with parallel slits, and the material between the slits is pressed inwardly to define a detent 21.

The ball supporting element 22, of this embodiment of the invention, is of cylindrical shape and has smooth inner and outer surfaces. Said element 22 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 23 which has lateral extensions defining vertically spaced notches 24. In use, the element 22 is fitted in the base 20, after which the detent 21 is depressed into the slot 23. In this condition the element 22 may be shifted freely in the base, within the limits of the slot 23. The said element may be held in upper, intermediate or lower position by partially rotating it for engaging the detent 21 in the appropriate notch 24. Thus a golf ball may be teed the desired height above ground.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 consists of a base 30 and a golf ball supporting element 31. Said base 30 is frustoconical, and carries at its upper end an integral, upwardly extending gripping member 32. The element 31 is displaceably mounted in the member 32, for positioing a golf ball, on the upper end of the element, a desired distance above the ground.

The embodiment of Fig. 7 consists of a pair of telescoping tubes, one serving as a base 40 and the other as a golf ball supporting element 41. The base 40 is formed with slits 42 which define feet 43 which can be bent outwardly, as shown in broken lines, to provide better support. The element 41 has a tight frictional engagement with the base 40, for holding a ball on the upper end of said element a desired distance above the ground, for driving.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf tee including a frusto-conical tubular base, said base having its upper end portion turned to define a reentrant semi-resilient gripping member, said gripping member having its free end portion biased toward the axis of the base, and a tubular golf ball supporting element adjustably mounted in the base and gripped by said reentrant gripping member, said gripping member pressing against the outer surface of said element for retaining the element in an adjusted position in the base.

2. A golf tee including a tubular base, said base having its upper end portion turned to define a reentrant semiresilient gripping member, ,said gripping member having its free end portion biased toward the axis of the base, and a golf ball supporting element adjustably mounted in the base and gripped by said reentrant gripping member, said gripping member pressing against the outer surface of said element for retaining the element in an adjusted position in the base.

References Cited in the file' of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 33,398 Herrick Oct. 16, 1900 1,604,390 Coker Oct. 26, 1926 1,779,995 Trane Oct 28, 1930 1,803,907 Kruse May 5, 1931 2,079,387 Sickmiller May 4, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 170,476 Great Britain Oct. 27, 1921 238,599 reat Britain a Aug. 19, 1925 427,478 Great Britain Apr. 18, 1935 

